Hutus killing Tutsis in Rwanda. The Rwandan genocide. Two different tribes, both from Rwanda, turn against each other.
When Belgians went over to Rwanda they chose those with better features and named them the Tutsis (12%) who were 'upper class' with the Hutus(82%) being 'lower class'. Hutus were looked down on and they (not all) wanted to wipe out the Tutsis.
.. This book is about an 8 year old girl named Jeanne, who survives the Rwandan genocide and is the only one in her family that survived..
Jeanne 'aka' Dede, and her family - Florence (mother), Ananie (father), older brother Jando (11) and younger sister Teya (6) - are Tutsis.
Like many Tutsis, they are wealthy and live a good life.
After news breaks out that the president of Rwandas plane was shot down by Tutsi rebels on the journey to sign a peace treaty with them, hell slowly breaks loose.
Hutus then start hunting down Tutsis. They are on the run along with many other Tutsis, and start seeking safety.
Not knowing exactly what was happening, Dede grabs everything she can and leaves with her family.
There isn't a destination in mind but anywhere away from the war is where they are heading, and that happens to be the community center where other Tutsis are staying. Soldiers attack the center and Dede looses every member of her family, one by one. Firstly is her mother, who is taken away by soldiers. Second is her father who she doesn't see after he locks the children into a room and leaves to look for help. Little Teya gets trapped in a building that gets blown up and Dede watches Jando get beaten to death.
She watches people die in front of her, running in every direction. She hears people yelling, crying, calling for loved ones, explosions and guns being fired, but mourning for her loss is the last thing on her mind, all she wants to do is escape.
During this slow and painful journey Dede has to adapt to a new way of living. Coming by food or anything edible was a blessing, having a shower with a cloth and bucket was how you were cleaned (if you got lucky) and realising that every man was for himself.
The author Hanna Jansen took Dede in after the Rwandan genocide. Dede helped Hanna write the book which to me, makes it more real. In the beginning of every chapter Hanna includes a few paragraphs about Dede after the war.. eg ..
'For days you've been wandering sleepless all night, you say. Because of horrible pictures from your memory that assault you in your dreams.
You don't want them. You resist. You weep. You sink ever deeper while you try to survive the night. The next day. While you try to act as if nothing were wrong.
Today, finally, you called me.
You should call me. Always, whenever things get to this point again'
Before I read this book I had no information on the Rwandan genocide. Now I feel like I know to much. I was taken on a journey with Dede and it was like an inside view of the genocide. Not only was Dede effected by this event, but many more were and weren't as lucky to be able to get back on their feet.
Would recommend this book to those who are interested in the Rwandan genocide or those who want to learn more. Would give this book an 8/10 :)
A great choice, Jimaima. I enjoyed your review and am pleased that you have broadened your horizons by reading about something you knew nothing about. This was a really shocking conflict and I can imagine that the book was pretty grim in places. There is a film about this conflict called Hotel Rwanda if you think you can stomach anymore!
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